Robert Hackenson helps students at Wilbanks Middle School “See Through the Smoke” during an assembly on Jan. 23. (WMS Twitter)
Massachusets-based “edutainer” Robert Hackenson is on a mission: to inform students and parents about the dangers of teen vaping.
“When it comes to education– when it comes to lecture– I found that a lot of times it was either ‘don’t do this,’ the authoritative figure, or someone looking at [their past mistakes] and saying ‘I made these mistakes, don’t be like me.'” Hackenson says. “I wanted to inform [students], but I wanted to do so in a more entertaining way.”
He infuses illusions and skits in his messages to engage his audience, but he says that each trick enforces what he’s teaching: making smart choices.
That approach attracted Habersham County school administrators. Concerned about the rising trend of vaping among middle and high schoolers, the school system hired Hackenson to deliver a series of assemblies Jan. 21-23.
His presentation, “See Through the Smoke,” aims to show impressionable students the power of marketing. “You can look at something and we think one way, it gets us to react, even though what we’re seeing might be an illusion,” he says. “I want them to see that they’re being played.”
Targeting teens
E-cigarette brands like Juul reached out to a younger demographic in their product launch, Hackenson tells Now Habersham. Juul used social media and young influencers as one of their biggest sources of advertising. Original ads for the vape brand boasted bright colors and smiling young adults, seemingly targeted at teens, though the company denies that their branding attempts to draw the attention of minors. Hackenson speculates that this isn’t true.
“I think it’s changing now, […] at least. Juul is saying ‘oh, we’re gonna back off,’ but the damage is already done. 5.3 million teens are already doing it. It’s […] taken on a marketing campaign of its own. They don’t have to have a campaign because they’ve already set the trend. They created a culture. You have the adult authority figure that says ‘hey, don’t do that,’ that […] makes them want to do it more.”
There are three things that attract minors to vaping, according to Hackenson: peer pressure, curiosity, and flavors. “The majority of teens that try it [vaping]… do it [because] they’re curious.” He says. “There are so many different flavors out there, cinnamon crunch, cotton candy.”
If there’s one clear takeaway about the safety of vaping, it’s that we don’t know enough, Hackenson says. Many of the ingredients that are branded as “FDA Approved,” like propylene glycol, are only FDA approved for consumption, not inhalation.
Signs parents should look for
One of Hackenson’s presentations in Habersham was geared toward parents.
So what should parents look for if they suspect their teenager might be vaping? One is a “quick scent” like fruit or bubble gum when your teen doesn’t seem to be chewing. Vape flavors are potent, so while you might not always see the vapor, you can often catch a smell. Another is simply observing the devices your child uses. Vapes can look like flash drives, be disguised as cups, inhalers, and even school supplies. If something seems off, Hackenson advises investigating.
If your child is drinking more fluids than usual or going to the bathroom more often, this may also be a sign of vaping. Hackenson says that vaping can lead to a dry mouth, leading users to drink more to combat the uncomfortable feeling. If your teen experiences more nose bleeds or cavities, Hackenson says this could be a sign too.
If you want to test your child for vaping, Hackenson says that buying nicotine tests might be an option for you. These can be purchased from Amazon or might be available for pickup from your local Walmart or drugstore. But according to Hackenson, the best thing you can do is open the conversation about vaping with your student. “The best thing we can do as parents is just to communicate,” He says. “When you hear a story, talk about it. Ask them [your student] what they’re thinking.”
Putting together a plan to stop vaping is essential to quitting. Help your teen understand the possible health risks of vaping, the financial toll of nicotine addiction, their future goals and their vaping triggers. Hackenson says, “When you have that support from parents, counselors, staff, friends, it all comes together,”
If your teen is ready to break up with their vape, they can text “DITCHJUUL” to 88709.
By: Hadley Cottingham | Now Habersham
